“With people, for people”

1997 – The Romanian Government identifies the need for a program to reduce poverty and increase local initiative. Prepares for the establishment of an organization that can pilot new initiatives and approaches.

1998 – The Romanian Parliament approves the establishment of the Romanian Social Development Fund, for an initial period of 4 years, by Law 129/1998.

1999 – Start of the governmental program Social Development Fund dedicated to poverty reduction, financed by a loan from the World Bank and the Government of Romania.

2000 – RSDF and the local community inaugurate the “Bridge of Hope” project in Brăila County, the first completed project, with the participation of the President of Romania and the Vice President of the World Bank;
– Metro Media Transilvania carries out the first impact assessment on the beneficiaries. The evaluation shows that the beneficiaries are satisfied, show confidence in the future, and are willing to get involved in projects. All the following projects are evaluated by specialized companies, the results becoming public.

2001 – Based on the obtained results, RSDF receives parallel financing for the Social Development Fund project, amounting to 10 million US dollars from a loan of the Romanian Government to the Development Bank of the Council of Europe;
– RSDF receives the support of £ 1 million from the British Embassy, ​​representing consultancy services to increase organizational capacity;
– The achievements obtained and the recognition of the beneficiaries, leading to the extension for an indefinite period of the functioning of RSDG, by amending Law 129/1998;
– The project The Social Development Fund receives the “Highly Satisfactory” rating from the World Bank, at the annual evaluation of the project portfolio.

2002 – The second phase of the Social Development Fund project begins, with a total budget of 26 million US dollars;
– The Studies, Analysis and Synthesis Unit consisting of 2 sociologists is established, destined to the permanent evaluation of the processes and the impact;
– The first branch is set up in Iasi;
– The World Bank Director for Central and Southern Europe visits the project of income-generating activities in Homorod, Brasov County.

2003 – The implementation of the “Rural Development Project” begins – the “community window” component, destined for the development of the infrastructure in the rural environment;

2004 – The second branch is established, in Alba Iulia;
– RSDF receives to carry out the Scheme of Social Development of the Mining Communities (pilot phase), component of the project Closure of mines and mitigation of social impact;
– The local project in Sahastru village, Vrancea county is presented as an example of good practice in the Government meeting to evaluate the portfolio of projects financed by loans.

2005 – Shigheo Katsu, Vice President of the World Bank, visits the road financed in Movila Oii village, Buzău county.

2006 – The Social Development Scheme of the Mining Communities is completed, pilot phase (90 projects);
– Following the results obtained, RSDF receives to carry out a new financing scheme SDSCM, component of a new project, Closure of mines, environmental restoration, and socio-economic regeneration.
– RSDF applies to the Roma Education Fund and receives a grant of 0.1 million Euros to carry out, in partnership with the Community Development Agency Together, the project “Education for civic employment in Roma communities.

2007 – The Social Development Fund project is finalized, within which 935 projects were financed within the limits of the funds (out of the 3,450 financing applications received);
– Start of the Priority Interventions Program, intended for the poorest Roma communities, an integral part of the Social Inclusion Project.

2008 – RSDF, as a partner, participates in the development of the strategic project financed by the European Social Fund through POSDRU “A better future for women”.

2009 – RSDF, as beneficiary, receives funding for the strategic project funded by the European Social Fund through POSDRU, “ESPAS – Social Economy as a strategic approach to local development, through the creation and management of social enterprises”
2010 – SDSCM is extended (until November 2011) and amounts allocated (increasing the total value of the component by 4 million US dollars) in order to absorb the amounts redistributed from other components. As a result, funding is opened for another 50 projects in mining areas, from the waiting list.
– Within the project “Combating discrimination and increasing the employment potential of rural women” funded by POSDRU, RSDF carries out the Analysis of programs/plans adopted in the EU in the field of women’s participation in the labor market.

2011 – PIP – The Priority Interventions Project is extended (until 01/03/2013) and allocated amount. The project budget increases by over 2 million Euro, the entire additional amount being destined to finance new integrated subprojects addressed to the poor Roma communities.

2012 – RSDF is appointed Program Operator for the RO10 Programme “Children and Youth at Risk and Local and Regional Initiatives to Reduce National Inequalities and Promote Social Inclusion”, EEA Grants 2009-2014.
– The SDSCM financing program is completed, 245 projects were financed.

2013 – PIP – The Priority Interventions Project is extended until 30/06/2014.

2017 – Programme RO10 “Children and Youth at Risk and Local and Regional Initiatives to Reduce National Inequalities and Promote Social Inclusion” is completed

2018- RSDF is designated Programme Operator for the Programme “Local Development, Poverty Reduction, and Enhanced Roma Inclusion”, EEA and Norway Grants 2014-2021.